CEBU, Philippines - Despite the threat of a bad weather the other day, yesterday morning turned out to be a smooth crossing for the image of the Santo Niño at the Mactan Channel.
Authorities were considering of cancelling the fluvial procession owing to the entry of a tropical depression to the Philippines Friday, but better conditions eventually prevailed yesterday morning.
Strict security was implemented throughout the procession – from the Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City where the vessel carrying the image originated to Pier 1 in Cebu City where the vessel docked. At least 250 vessels joined the procession, said Commodore William Melad, Commander of the Philippine Coast Guard in Central Visayas.
“There was no incident and the time frame was covered as scheduled and arrived at Pier 1 a few minutes before 8:00 a.m.,†Melad told The Freeman.
In Mandaue City alone, an estimated 50,000 sent the image of the Santo Niño and the image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe off at the Ouano Wharf. Mandaue Police chief Police Sr./Supt. Petronelli Baldebrin said that despite this number, the crowd remained calm and peaceful during the send-off.
Meanwhile, despite warnings from authorities, hundreds of balloons were released into the air during the procession.
Both the the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and Basilica del Santo Niño were explicit in their instructions that no helium-filled balloon should be carried and/or released into the air during the procession, but several vessels did not follow the guidelines. Some devotees even popped confetti to the sea.
Environmentalists have since been saying that balloons that land on the ocean pose a danger to marine animals because of the helium and other chemical contents.
At Pier 1, four groups, including the group from Barangay Mabolo where Estrelita Diola, the keeper of the original Sinulog beat and dance came from, performed to greet the vessel carrying the image of the Santo Niño.
San Roque Barangay Captain Boy Miranda, overall chairman of the Basilica Eucharistic Minister Association, said it was the first time that there was a performance at the port. In the previous years, performances were allowed only after the reenactment of the first mass and baptism at the Pilgrim Center at the Basilica.
During the mass preceding the reenactment, Fr. Jonas Mejares thanked attendees for their undying devotion to the Child Jesus. Thousands continued to flock to the Basilica for the daily Novena masses despite the rain the past week.
“Unos, balod, mao kini atong gikabalak-an nga mahitabo karong adlawa, pero sigon sa akong nasaksihan, ang nasaksihan sa akong mga mata, ang ka-kalma sa kadagatan. Kining tanan hinimuan sa Batang Balaan,†Mejares said.
Taking off from the recent calamities that struck the Visayas, Mejares, in his homily, said people should be more afraid of Satan’s influence more than disasters.
“Dili angay kahadlokan ang mga katalagman kay ang labaw sa kalibutan nga angay natong kahadlukan mao ang lakang ni satanas. Kinahanglan kining likayan kay kun dili malikayan, kadaot ang atong padulngan,†he said.
The reenactment, Mejares said, depicts that through baptism, people became “adoptee of God.†Through the ‘Batobalani sa Gugma,’ people rejoice the greatest love from God, he said.
“Isalig ni Sto. Niño ang tanan aron ang atong pangandoy sa atong kaugalingon, pamilya, ug nasod matuman,†said Mejares. – Ria Mae Y. Booc, Flor Z. Perolina, Kristine B. Quintas, Liv G. Campo, and Jean Decemillo, USJ-R MassComm Intern/JMO (FREEMAN)